Entry requirements

60 credits science/technology/systems science including a course in object-oriented programming.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:

• construct an interative user interface based on the basic knowledge about the humans perceptual and cognitive properties;
• describe the basic principles within the field of human-computer interaction;
• use existing components from an interface library to build an interactive user interface;
• be able to produce an interface that has support for several languages, by separating linguistic contents from program code;
• separate an interface's behaviour from its appearance;
• structure program code in a way so that the different parts of the code are independent of one another;
• to plan and create solutions where the visual presentation are independent of the underlying data structure;
• connect a user interface to a database system;
• present individual and group results in discussions and seminars;
• carry out a basic evaluation of a graphic user interface.

Content

This course is about how to implement graphic user interfaces. The course includes (in detail) different strategies and techniques for user interface design for new or existing systems, including the use of databases. Focus is on the structural development of the interfaces - it is therefore not a course in graphic design. Tools used to create interfaces also belong here. Different ways to design interfaces are examined via practical exercises.

Key concepts: model-view-control, threaded interfaces, interruption control, client/server, language independent applications, design patterns, keyboard shortcuts, actions, renderers, API.

Instruction

The course is practically aimed, and a large part of the knowledge must be acquired via individual and group-based programming/development.

Assessment

Presentation of individual effort, including an individual interview, joint solution to assignments, and active participation in seminars.